Textile package laydown device



April 1968 F. E. MENDES, 3D 3,378,898

TEXTILE PACKAGE LAYDOWN DEVICE Filed March 5, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 P/WWMMS? :10

WFMME? 1 775:56 UKE April 1968 F. E. MENDES, so

TEXTILE PACKAGE LAYDOWN DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 5, 1965 United States Patent 3,378,898 TEXTILE PACKAGE LAYDOWN DEVICE Frank Emmons Mendes 3d, Camden, S.C., assignor to E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 5, 1965, Ser. No. 437,499 4 Claims. (Cl. 2821) This invention relates to an improved apparatus for depositing a continuous strand such as a textile rope or tow at high speeds in a container with a uniform laydown so that the strand can be easily removed without entanglement.

Such an apparatus usually includes some means for distributing the strand and controlling its laydown throughout the filling period. Some installations provide for oscillating the container in two perpendicular directions while feeding the strand from a fixed spout. Others oscillate the spout in one direction and either oscillate or rotate the container. Still others oscillate the feed spout simultaneously in two perpendicular directions.

In those installations where the strand is delivered from an oscillating spout, strand momentum causes it to be thrown out and away from the spout. The extent of throw increases with strand or spout speed and is relatively large in the depths of a container. These factors often lead to incomplete coverage of the container cross sections at some levels and to overthrown layers at other levels. As a consequence, difficulties are encountered with entanglement during withdrawal of the strand from the container.

The primary object of this invention is to fill a container with a precisely predetermined pattern of strand laydown at each level within the container.

A corollary objective is to program the laydown of a strand in a container in such a manner as to offset the usual effects of container depth and strand momentum.

A further object is to provide for repetition of the precise strand laydown pattern from one container to another.

These objectives are achieved in a strand delivery apparatus which includes a fill spout swingably mounted in gimbals and a pair of reciprocable actuators connected to the gimbals for swinging the spout simultaneously about intersecting axes. There is a control means coupled with each actuator for varying the linear extent of successive reciprocations according to a predetermined program.

Other objectives and advantages will be apparent from the following specification wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary, partially schematic illustration of the strand delivery apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of one of the control features shown schematically in FIG. 1; and

FIGS. 3-5 are graphs of programmed pressure variations in the inlet and outlet conduits of the pneumatic amplifier which controls the actuator shown in FIG. 2.

In the apparatus embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a strand such as a textile tow advances from a continuous source of supply, between feed rolls 12 and through a fill spout 14 to a rectangular container 16. A pair of brackets 18 are fixedly attached to spout 14 adjacent its upper end and carry opposed pairs of stub shafts 20, 22. A mounting fork 24 has symmetrical arms 26 and a hollow cylindrical leg 28 rotatably mounted in fixed bearings 30. Spout 14 is swingably supported from fork by the pivotal mounting of each stub shaft in an arm 26. A lever 32 projects from leg 28 and is linked by a pivot pin to the rod of a pneumatic positioner (Fisher Governor, Model No. 480-) which has been illustrated as a reciprocable linear actuator 34 fed through a variable pneumatic connection 36. A second linear actuator 38 is fed by a variable connection 39 and has its rod coupled to the leg 40 3,378,898 Patented Apr. 23, 1968 of a second fork 42 having a pair of offset symmetrical arms 44. The outer ends of arms 44 are pivotally attached to stub shafts 22 on brackets 18. Since forks 24, '42 facilitate simultaneous oscillations about intersecting axes, spout 14 will be referred to herein as mounted in gimbals.

Pneumatic control signals are transmitted to connec tions 36, 39 from programming components 46, 48. As strand 10 is delivered to container 16, spout 14 is oscillated on an extended axis of leg 28 by the reciprocation of actuator 34. Simultaneously, actuator 38 reciprocates leg 40 Within the bore of leg 28 and thereby oscillates spout 14 on the axis of stub shafts 29, which axis is substantially perpendicular to the extended axis of leg 28. Programming components 46, 48 supply control signals which increase the linear extent of successive reciprocations according to a predetermined program, as will be explained more fully hereinafter. They are structurally and functionally similar, differing only in the manually adjustable, numerical magnitudes of their output characteristics. With this understanding, only progammer 46 has been disclosed in detail.

As shown in FIG. 2, the variable input to connection 36 from programming component 46 is actually the output of a remote adjustable computing relay (Bailey Meter Co., No. AR8032A, Model B) which is referred to herein as a pneumatic amplifier 50. That output has been shown in the graph of FIG. 5 as a rapidly oscillating pressure level or signal 50s having a gradually increasing amplitude of oscillation. The constant pressure air supply to amplifier 50 is converted to signal 50s by virtue of three control inputs through conduits 52, 54, 56. Conduit '52 is connected to the remote bias bellows in amplifier 50'. Conduit 54 is connected to the remote gain bellows. Conduit 56 is connected to the input signal bellows.

Conduit 52 communicates with a manually adjustable stroke mid-point regulator 58 (Moore Products, Model No. 41-15). Conduit 54 communicates with a ramp generator 60, so called because it generates the ramp signal designated at 54s in FIG. 4. Conduit 56 communicates with a variable pressure connection 62 in which an air supply is converted to the oscillating; signal designated at 56s in FIG. 3. Signals 54s and 56s are applied to and convert the air supply to amplifier 50 to oscillating signal 50s, the median or base pressure of which depends on the preset or bias input to amplifier 50 from regulator 58. The frequency of signal 56s is set by and equal to the frequency of signal 56s.

Variable pressure connection 62 is a motion pressure transducer (Foxboro, Model CP) coupled with a reducing relay (Moore Products, Model No. 68-3). The relay has a manual adjustment feature which has been indicated at 62m. In addition, an oscillating frequency is imparted to the pressure transducer by a spring biased arm 64 having a follower in engagement with a heart cam 66 which is driven by an electronic variable speed drive and motor (Boston Gear, Ratiotrol R12, Reductor UP 109.40 and Motor No. AASD) which is referred to herein as drive motor 6-8. Attached to motor 68, there is a manual speed adjusting device 70. As mentioned previously, connection 62 communicate through conduit 56 with the input signal bellows in amplifier 50 and supplies component Sfis (FIG. 3) of composite signal 50s (FIG. 5).

Ramp generator 60 includes a synchronous electric timing motor 72 which is coupled to a magnetic clutch 74. In turn, clutch 74 is coupled to a 360 linear cam 76. The latter coupling includes a spring feature (not shown) which returns cam 76 t0 the start position shown in FIG. 2 when clutch 74 is disengaged.

As illustrated, line current is fed to motors 68, 72

and an electromagnet 78 over lines 80, 82. A switch 84 controls the suppl of power to motors 68, 72 and coil 78. A second switch 86 controls the application of power to motor 72 without effect on motor 68 or clutch 74. Switch 84 may be either a simple switch opened and closed by an operator before doing a full container or it may be linked electrically to either a yardage timer associated with strand 10 or a weight responsive switch beneath container 16. Similarly, switch 86 may be either a manually operable disconnector or may be interlocked with a tow defect detector or stop motion device so that motor 72 can be stopped without disengaging clutch 74 and resetting cam 76. Switches 84, 86 are ganged with corresponding switches in programmer 48. Thus, the motion of spout 14 may be reinstituted without interruption in the program.

Cam 76 pivots the follower on a spring biased arm 88 away from the cam axis and thereby imparts a gradual increase to the air supply to a motion pressure transducer or other variable pressure connection 90. Connection 90 communicates with the primary input bellows of a computing relay (Bailey Meter Co. #AR8032A, Model B) which is referred to herein as a pneumatic amplifier 92. A biasing pneumatic signal is furnished to the bias bellows of amplifier 92 by a manual loading regulator and gauge 94. The gain bellows of amplifier 92 communicates with another manual loading regulator and gauge 96. (Regulators 94, 96 are identical to the regulator 58 which communicates with amplifier 50 through conduit 52.) These three control inputs convert the constant pressure air supply to amplifier 92 to the ramp signal 54s which is a control input to pneumatic amplifier 50 through conduit 54.

A filling operation is initiated by positioning an empty container below spout 14 and closing switch 84 to energize motors 68, 72. This also energizes coil 78 and thereby engages clutch 74. The ensuing rotation of cam 76 moves arm 88 away from the cam axis at a constant rate such that the signal from connection 90 rises in pressure according to the equation P =P+Kt where P is the pressure applied to amplifier 92 at time t, P0 is the initial pressure and K is the rate of increase which is dependent on the rate of rotation of cam 76, its dimensions and the characteristics of connection 90. The signals from connection 90 and regulators 94, 96 are combined in amplifier 92 and used to convert its air supply to the ramp output signal 54s (FIG. 4) which follows the equation P =P +P P =P +P (P0+Kt). In the meantime, rota-tion of cam 66 varies the output pressure of connection 62 to produce control signal 56s (FIG. 3). These signals are combined in amplifier 50 to produce signal 50s (FIG. 5). A corresponding signal having its own frequency and amplitude of oscillation is produced in programmer 48 (-FIG. 1). When container 16 is full, switch 84 is opened to de-energize motors 68, 72 and coils 78. On disengagement of the clutches 74, each cam 76 returns to the illustrated start position by spring action.

Obviously, the frequency and amplitude of both oscil- 4 latory motions can be varied by changing one or more of the various manual adjustments or by substituting otherwise similar components having different performance characteristics. For example, the ramp generator cams 76 could be replaced with others having different contours. Thus, strand laydown at successive levels within a container can be made to conform to desired patterns. Similarly, some of the pneumatic components could be replaced with functionally equivalent, electric or electronic components. Other adaptations and modifications will occur to those skilled in the art without departure from the present invention which accordingly is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A strand delivery apparatus comprising a fill spout, means swingably supporting said spout for movement about intersecting axes comprising a first mounting fork pivotably attached thereto including a hollow leg extending therefrom, fixed bearing means for supporting said hollow leg and fork for oscillatory movement about the leg axis, a second mounting fork pivotally attached to said spout and provided with a leg extending through said hollow leg and provided for reciprocal movement therein, reciprocating actuators attached to each of said legs for imparting said oscillatory and said reciprocal movements, and control means coupled with each actuator for gradually varying the linear extent of successive reciprocations of each actuator according to a predetermined program.

2. The strand delivery apparatus of claim 1 wherein each control means includes sub-components for supplying oscillating signals of increasing amplitude according to preset programs.

3. The strand delivery apparatus of claim 1 wherein each control means includes a pneumatic amplifier and separate pneumatic circuits wherein oscillating and ramp signals, respectively, are generated as control inputs to the amplifier, said ramp signal having a gradually variable pressure level during said program.

4. The strand delivery apparatus of claim 3 wherein said ramp signal generator circuit comprises a variable pressure connection, a motor driven cam coupled with said connection and means for disabling the cam temporarily and independently of the oscillating signal generator circuit, said cam having a contour corresponding to the variable pressure level of said ramp signal.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,573,563 10/1951 Gardiner 91-4-l1 2,919,680 1/1960 Scharringhausen 9141l 3,021,587 2/1962 Rudba-rg 28-21 3,281,913 11/1966 Morehead et a1. 2821 FOREIGN PATENTS 561,345 8/1958 Canada.

ROBERT R. MACKEY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A STRAND DELIVERY APPARATUS COMPRISING A FILL SPOUT, MEANS SWINGABLY SUPPORTING SAID SPOUT FOR MOVEMENT ABOUT INTERSECTING AXES COMPRISING A FIRST MOUNTING FORK PIVOTABLY ATTACHED THERETO INCLUDING A HOLLOW LEG EXTENDING THEREFROM, FIXED BEARING MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID HOLLOW LEG AND FORK FOR OSCILLATORY MOVEMENT ABOUT THE LEG AXIS, A SECOND MOUNTING FORK PIVOTALLY ATTACHED TO SAID SPOUT AND PROVIDED WITH A LEG EXTENDING THROUGH SAID HOLLOW LEG AND PROVIDED FOR RECIPROCAL MOVEMENT THEREIN, RECIPROCATING ACTUATORS ATTACHED TO EACH OF SAID LEGS FOR IMPARTING SAID OSCILLATORY AND SAID RECIPROCAL MOVEMENTS, AND CONTROL MEANS COUPLED WITH EACH ACTUATOR FOR GRADUALLY VARYING THE LINEAR EXTENT OF SUCCESSIVE RECIPROCATIONS OF EACH ACTUATOR ACCORDING TO A PREDETERMINED PROGRAM. 